25/01/2021

Microsoft teams was running slow first thing this morning but the group showed great determination. It did however require some technical support from class mates and a very smooth rescue mission from one individual to recover those lost in another virtual room. The team met and congratulated each other on a job well done. Despite the minor delay to the start of class they were all smiles and pleased to see each other.

The group are adapting well to this new way of life and learning. It may not be a classroom as we know it but it is offering them some structure to their week. They enjoy seeing each other and the staff that support them. The first few minutes of the day are taken up with general chit chat, each asking how the others are and enquiring on theirs and their family's health.

There have been a few oops moments when students forget they are participating in a class and the language seems to switch from good mannered English to …………….well I best not say. After a gentle reminder that they are still required to abide by class rules they quickly apologise. This is to be expected when individuals are removed from their natural way of life.

They engaged in a group discussion and I introduced them to the morning task. We discovered a new entity today called a breakout room, this is where members of the group can congregate and work away from the rest of the group. This was utilised by a support worker offering one to one support to students. While working on their morning task some left Microsoft teams to return later. Others stayed on line and worked while talking to each other. I and my support team remained in the vicinity to offer assistance when required. All students completed their assignments in good time.

26/01/2021

Today the team ventured further into the realms of Microsoft teams exploring some of its inner workings. Students used a virtual hand which they activated when they required help. Some students ventured into a meeting chat box and we were able to communicate using text messages. We found this useful when gathering information from the group when asking questions. One of the group found this particularly useful as their main communication device, a microphone was experiencing some technical problems. Yet again the breakout room proved a useful tool for supporting small groups of students.

We were momentarily distracted, first a cat joining the group and then two dogs came to say hello. They seemed completed unfazed by the whole situation, completing ignoring everyone. They seemed more occupied with obtaining many hugs and being fussed for as long as possible.

There was a short period of time when one member of the group mutinied and somehow gained control of the screen. None would admit to this, there were lots of giggles as I and my support team tried to regain control. They very soon relinquished control to myself followed by waves of laughter.

The group discussed the use of colour to communicate emotions and matched colours to emotions they felt during lockdowns. Their mission was to create art work using these words and colours. Some more experienced members chose to use their digital devices to create work while others used pencils and paper. All students successfully completed their work and shared it with the others. Those more experienced in the use of digital devices expanded their knowledge of teams, discovering the share function. They were able to share what they had done on their screens with the whole group.